The belowground bud bank plays an important role in vegetation restoration of sand dune ecosystems in semi-arid regions. However, few studies have focused on the temporal–spatial changes of belowground bud banks in interdune lowlands.
The size and composition of belowground bud bank in five interdune lowlands with different sizes were investigated for one growing season to determine the temporal and spatial changes in belowground bud bank.
Total bud bank density was the highest in the medium-sized interdune lowland as was tiller bud density. The density of stem-base buds exhibited an opposite trend while rhizome bud density did not change with interdune lowland size. There was a significant seasonal change in the bud bank size. The total bud density peaked in August and was the lowest in October. A similar trend was found for rhizome bud density, whereas the density of stem-base buds showed an opposite trend, and tiller bud density did not change significantly during the growing season. We conclude that the belowground bud bank density is changed with interdune lowland size and season. These results contribute to the understanding of adaptive strategies of plants growing in active dune ecosystems and provide pointers for adopting effective measures to restore and conserve dune vegetation in semi-arid regions.
摘要：
中国东北地区流动沙丘生态系统丘间低地地下芽库的时空变化
地下芽库在半干旱区沙丘生态系统植被恢复中起着重要作用。然而，目前针对流动沙丘丘间低地地下芽库时空变化的研究却很少。本研究通过调查一个生长季内5个不同面积流动沙丘丘间低地地下芽库的大小和组成，确定流动沙丘丘间低地地下芽库的时空变化。研究结果显示，中等面积丘间低地的总芽库密度与分蘖芽密度最高，茎基部芽密度呈相反趋势，而根茎芽密度不随丘间低地的面积变化而变化。地下芽库大小具有明显的季节变化特征。总芽密度在8月份达到高峰，10月份最低，根茎芽密度变化趋势与总芽密度相似，而茎基芽密度变化趋势与总芽密度相反，分蘖芽密度的变化不明显。以上结果表明，地下芽库密度随丘间低地的面积和季节变化而变化。这一结果有助于认识流动沙丘生态系统中植物生长的适应策略，并可为半干旱区沙丘植被恢复和保护提供理论指导。
关键词:
植被恢复,
芽数量,
季节变化,
丘间低地面积,
半干旱内陆沙丘
